When

A medical examiner on Tuesday determined that a 43-year-old Hilo man found dead in his pickup truck in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park over the weekend died from asphyxiation by hanging.

Steven Elliott

On Sat., Jan. 12, a park ranger discovered Steven L. Elliott’s body in the back of a white 2002 Ford pickup truck at 9:34 a.m. The truck, registered to Elliott, was parked on the shoulder facing Ka‘ū in the southwest direction.

While Elliott’s death may appear to be suicide, the National Park Service is conducting an investigation. Anyone who noticed anything suspicious near the scene between 10:22 p.m. Fri., Jan. 11 and 9:34 a.m. on Sat., Jan. 12 is asked to call park dispatch at (808) 985-6170. Tipsters can remain anonymous.